Q. After dieting, I always regain weight. I'm curious about how to prevent the yo-yo effect. What should I do?

I understand the frustration—I’ve been through yo-yo dieting myself. The joy of losing weight quickly fades when the pounds return, often with extra. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is often viewed as spleen deficiency (pi xu). When the spleen is weak, digestion and absorption become impaired, energy conversion efficiency drops, and the body shifts toward an easily weight-gaining constitution. To prevent rebound, consider these steps: 1. **Stop severe calorie restriction** – Crash dieting further weakens spleen function. I used to think eating less meant losing weight, but it slowed my metabolism and worsened the rebound. Slow, moderate reduction is better. 2. **Choose foods according to your constitution (sasang)** – For example, Taeeumin types do better with vegetables and fish rather than meat, while Soyangin benefit from warm teas over cold drinks. Following a random diet without knowing your constitution can backfire. 3. **Maintain regular meal times** – Binge-fast cycles put the body into emergency mode. Eating three small meals at consistent times stabilizes the spleen’s rhythm and reduces rebound. 4. **Increase daily activity** – Small habits like taking stairs instead of elevators or walking an extra stop on your commute are more sustainable than intense gym sessions. TKM emphasizes promoting qi circulation to prevent blood stasis (eosa) and phlegm fluid (dameum) from accumulating. 5. **Reinforce spleen–stomach function with herbal medicine** – For those with spleen deficiency, customized herbal formulas can improve digestion and metabolism. The goal isn’t rapid weight loss but building a foundation for the body to self-regulate. Always consult a practitioner for a constitution-specific prescription. Yo-yo effect is often not due to short-term willpower but a breakdown of the body’s metabolic system. From my own trial and error, the surest path is to go slowly, make peace with your body, and adapt gradually. Please visit us anytime if you need further guidance.